Once Upon a Time...

"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion) 01/08/2018 at 11:54 • Filed to: None

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I could ski! I mean, theoretically I can still do this. But I haven’t done either of these things in several years because kiddos. Bonus points for not wearing a helmet in either pic? Ah, how things have changed in just 13 short years.

I still have those same poles. I also have the skis (for spares), and the hat. Probably the gloves, too.

ETA: I still ski plenty, but with my little kids we’re still on the bunny slope for the most part. I’ve dialed it back a bit, you might say.

TahoeSTi > functionoverfashion 01/11/2018 at 15:52

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Your kids don’t like to ski? We start them at 2-3 years old around here.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > functionoverfashion 01/11/2018 at 15:54

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I used to mountain bike at a competitive level (nothing serious, but I was OK).

Now? I sit on the couch

HammerheadFistpunch > functionoverfashion 01/11/2018 at 16:00

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yeah, I used to be more aggressive, now im all about them turns.

Wacko > functionoverfashion 01/11/2018 at 16:02

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i also used to ski from 3 years old till i was 18, like every weekend.

i was in the competitions from 8 years old till i was 14.

then I found the mogules

now i’m 38 so yes, the last time i went skiing was in the 90s

I still have my Salomon F8 skis

Wacko > Wacko 01/11/2018 at 16:05

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and my knees are hurting from all those jumps....

functionoverfashion > TahoeSTi 01/11/2018 at 16:06

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On the contrary! Our kids were skiing at 2, but they’re now only 3 and 5. So... we’re not moving very fast just yet. And partly, I won’t take the same risks on my runs without the kids as I would have when I didn’t have, for example, duties of kid pickup/dropoff every day with a manual transmission car - not to mention running around the house all over the place getting them ready in the morning and afternoon/dinner at night.

tl/dr - the kids ski but not very fast. And I’m more risk averse.

functionoverfashion > Wacko 01/11/2018 at 16:07

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Oh man those Salomons made great furniture when people started phasing them out and leaving them at the dump. I used to make adirondack chairs out of skis, and the more colorful the better!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > functionoverfashion 01/11/2018 at 16:08

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I was an avid skier in high school and college. Then I moved to california and skied alpine 5 times from 1998 to 2012. I’m back on skis and season 6 skiing about 50 days a season at Whitefish Mountain Resort. I’ve taught both my kids to ski starting around 1st grade.

Both kids are rippers now and we have a blast skiing black diamonds all day long.

One thing that has changed is the skis. OMG the skis are so much better and so much more fun and versatile. I have two pairs one 89 underfoot dynastar “groomer ski” that is actually more of an all mountain ski and a pair of 105 under foot Line’s for soft snow and fun things. They ski are so much easier and they ski really well. Honestly I think my Lines are better in moguls and groomers than any skinny 90's ski I ever had. By 90's standards my Lines would be a pure powder ski and they are mid width by today’s standards.

Of coarse I live and ski in the west where we get 1-2 feet of fresh snow about every week in the winter so it’s always soft. In the east things are different.

https://powderforward.kinja.com/2016-2017-ski-season-recap-1794338041

CalzoneGolem > functionoverfashion 01/11/2018 at 16:08

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I’ve decided to give up skiing and ice skating. Basically any activity where I fall hard often. I’m clumsy and my reconstructed spine doesn’t like compression.

functionoverfashion > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 01/11/2018 at 16:09

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I actually got back INTO mountain biking as a way to easily get good, fun exercise right from home in relatively short amounts of time. Get back on the bike, man!

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > functionoverfashion 01/11/2018 at 16:09

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never learnt to ski..... but i put the young uns to shame when it comes to cycling like an asshole (wich is also why i keep needing new spokes in my rear wheel..... full force pedaling in a turn really fucks ups rims)

functionoverfashion > HammerheadFistpunch 01/11/2018 at 16:11

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I have a really, really hard time slowing myself down. But when it comes to really big drops, big jumps, etc I can dial it back.

I recently was contemplating a cliff drop where the exit was tight between some trees, and kinda decided not to do it; then some kids skied up below the cliff and I was like, “well, at least there’s someone here to help if I crash” and went for it. I made it, but in hindsight, I should have avoided it altogether...

HammerheadFistpunch > functionoverfashion 01/11/2018 at 16:13

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Im at that point in my life where I still have the skill, but I have more to lose, so while my chances aren’t changed much my risk to reward ratios are very different.

Roadster Man > functionoverfashion 01/11/2018 at 16:13

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Last year was the first winter I didn’t get a single run in since I started skiing when I was like 3-4 years old. I gotta get back out there. And shout out to a fellow racer! I used to race Giant Slalom in high school. I always wished we had slalom events..

functionoverfashion > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 16:14

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Oh man, I love the west. I have skied all over, although admittedly not yet in Montana. High on my list, for sure.

We’ve gotten our kids into it, hopefully they’ll love it like my wife and I both did. It’s a great family activity and it’s a true lifetime sport. My grandfather skied until he was over 80.

It’s harder, for sure, to get excited about it in the east... but you can find things to make it exciting I suppose. That’s the original reason I started racing. It makes ANY trail challenging!

TahoeSTi > functionoverfashion 01/11/2018 at 16:14

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So you still ski, just not like you used to. I thought you gave it all up......and that made me feel sad.......almost as sad as the rain we are getting does that should be snow.

Wacko > functionoverfashion 01/11/2018 at 16:14

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are you the oppo that made a fence out of skis?

functionoverfashion > HammerheadFistpunch 01/11/2018 at 16:14

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Very much the same here. A broken leg would be a goddamn disaster for me right now. I’m with you on that....

functionoverfashion > Roadster Man 01/11/2018 at 16:16

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Slalom was so much fun! Like boxing on skis. I skied very little for a few winters in my 20's when the eastern resorts just weren’t doing it for me... but the kids have made everything new again, so we’re back at it!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > functionoverfashion 01/11/2018 at 16:16

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The snow has been so good up here the last few years I won’t even go up during the week unless there is 6" or more of fresh. We almost always go up on the weekends both saturday and sunday because there really is not much else to do and we all have passes.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > functionoverfashion 01/11/2018 at 16:18

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The kids learn fast, about 2-3 seasons and they are competent black diamond skiers.

functionoverfashion > CalzoneGolem 01/11/2018 at 16:19

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We just recently started skating with our kids over the holiday break, because it was unbearably cold outside, but like 35 inside the ice arena nearby so it was a fun way to get some energy out.

Yeah, if I had back issues I wouldn’t go near skis or skates either!

functionoverfashion > Wacko 01/11/2018 at 16:20

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No, I have no use for a fence. But I could certainly gather enough skis!

functionoverfashion > TahoeSTi 01/11/2018 at 16:22

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Oh hell no, I will never give up skiing! It’s probably the single skill that I am best at, personally. I will ski anywhere, with anyone, anytime. At least, I would. If I had time.

I coach Nordic ski jumping at my local high school, too - so I’m deep in the ski world.

functionoverfashion > TahoeSTi 01/11/2018 at 16:22

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OH and we’re getting rain tomorrow, too. I’m not happy.

CalzoneGolem > functionoverfashion 01/11/2018 at 16:24

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We got everyone snowshoes last year.

functionoverfashion > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 16:24

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That is awesome. We started at age 2, so I don’t know about black diamonds in a year or two, but our 5 year old is ready for some more challenging stuff this year. It’s been too cold so far, actually. Like, 10F is ok, but last weekend the HIGH was 0F at our house with 15-25mph winds - so, it was probably -10F at the mountain with 40mph winds. Nope.

functionoverfashion > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/11/2018 at 16:25

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I am so jealous of those conditions. But at least the kids are into it, and it gets us out on the mountain every decent weekend day.

functionoverfashion > CalzoneGolem 01/11/2018 at 16:26

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That’s fun, too! What I do around my property is to snowshoe a path, then use it for a little cross-country ski trail. The speeds are so slow, it doesn’t hurt when you fall - so long as the snow isn’t super crusty!

TahoeSTi > functionoverfashion 01/11/2018 at 16:38

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I’ve been getting into Nordic skiing more, with some nice wide waxless skis .... I’m convinced it’s the best way to access the backcountry, or just go out for a nice loop with the Wife and dog.....Ski jumping seems fun but I’ve already learned I hit the ground much hard then I used to.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > functionoverfashion 01/11/2018 at 16:41

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My kids didn’t get into it seriously until 6-7 years old. They need to be a certain size and have a decent amount of stamina to go for a whole day without failure or drama. Even at 11 and 14 they still bitch and moan when they get cold or hungry.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > functionoverfashion 01/11/2018 at 16:45

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I am so thankful for helmets. Not just for the protection from whacking a tree or falling on ice, but also just to keep the small branches at bay and to have a place to store my goggles securely. I hate always skiing with goggles on, it gets too hot even in below zero weather. But without the helmet strap, they would totally get lost at some point when I take them off. In hinsight to my first few years skiing, I was absolutely insane to be without a helmet, even just sticking to the easy slopes.

Roadster Man > functionoverfashion 01/11/2018 at 17:04

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I was never smart enough for GS, after the third gate I would just be reacting. Planning lines is hard. That’s why I always wanted to race slalom— not enough time to think, just ski!

I learned to ski at Okemo in VT. I’ve learned to love the ice, haha.

I can’t ever thank my parents enough for dragging me to the slopes as a little kid, even when I didn’t want to go. Get those tykes out in the snow!

McMike > functionoverfashion 01/11/2018 at 17:13

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Me too! Look at me go.

functionoverfashion > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 01/12/2018 at 09:32

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I like helmets when it’s really cold, but I can’t stand them when it’s warm. I find myself taking the helmet off at the bottom every run if there’s any lift line at all. When it’s super cold? Sign me up.

Of course I appreciate the safety aspect of it, and my kids will pretty much not know skiing without it.

functionoverfashion > McMike 01/12/2018 at 09:33

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If you don’t fall once in a while, you’re not trying hard enough. I usually fall in the dumbest places, at low speeds. I haven’t had a high-speed crash in years.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > functionoverfashion 01/12/2018 at 20:17

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I like how well ventilated my helmet is. Even on days where I’ve skied with 70 degree weather, it was fine. The snow was not fine but that was a different problem lol. I just have to make sure the vents are open, take off the ear pads, and not wear a head sock. Sure it’s not the warmest thing when it’s -20 out but with the vents shut, a nice warm head sock, and goggles on it will keep me comfortable while moving.